J-POWER, which is the trading name for Electric Power Development Co., is a power utility which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. J-POWER is the sixth largest energy utility in Japan, with a total of 16,380 megawatts (MW) generation capacity. Of this generation capacity, 8,556MW is from hydro assets and 7,825 MW from both gas and coal fired thermal power stations.[1]

J-POWER also has interests in 17 power projects around the world - fueled by gas, coal, hydro and biomass -- in the USA, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan. J-POWER also has investments in four Australian coal mines.[1]

Greenhouse gas emissions

J-POWER states that in 2008 the company's total greenhouse gas emissions from both its Japanese and overseas power projects amounted to 50.22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, up from 24.67 million tonnes in 1991.[2]

J-POWER is also involved in a total of five power projects in Chile, Columbia and Brazil which have been registered with the Executive Broad of the Clean Development Mechanism.[2]

J-POWER's Coal Interests

Coal power stations in Japan

J-POWER owns and operates a fleet of seven coal-fired power stations in Japan.[3] These are:

the Isogo power station comprising two 600MW units, the New No 1 was commissioned in March 2002 and the New No 2 is currently under construction and scheduled to be commissioned in 2010/2011.[4]

the Takehara power station comprising three units; the 250MW unit no 1 was commissioned in July 1967; the 350MW No 2 was converted from being an oil-fired power station to coal and re-commissioned in June 1995; and the 700MW No 3 which was commissioned in March 1983;